No construction yet: who’s responsible for spending $300 million on hurricane evacuation route?

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -

It's a nightmare scenario: nearly a million people are forced
to evacuate from the coast, as a hurricane takes aim at Virginia.

One of the solutions now on the table – build a massive $1.4
billion dollar highway to ease congestion.
But after more than 10 years in the making, critics contend the plan has
gone nowhere fast.

Nothing has been built, even after Virginia taxpayers spent
more than $300 million to revamp an ageing Route 460. The highway would serve
as a new express connector between the coast and Prince George, 90 miles
inland.

Just one problem: Virginia's secretary of transportation
tells us, even after taxpayers have spent millions of dollars, the environmental
permits to build are not yet approved.

"There's no good way to explain why we're sitting here today
with $300 million out the door, and not had a permit," said Aubrey Layne, Virginia's
secretary of transportation.

What's to blame? Well it all starts with wetlands. At first,
500 acres laid in the path of the new Route 460. But decision-makers weren't
told about the huge hurdles, and problematic permits needed to build there.

That's all according to a recent report commissioned by Layne,
who's now in charge of the project. Before he took over as transportation
secretary in January, Layne was one of the private business leaders who green-lighted
the new 460.

But Layne says two years ago, Governor Bob McDonnell's
administration, never revealed concerns about paving over pristine wetlands.

"They weren't required to reveal those concerns," said Layne.
"But nobody stood back and said, ‘this is still a risk.'"

The Army Corps of Engineers raised concerns, and said it
would not allow construction. But that did not stop Virginia tax dollars from
being spent.

$60 million so far has gone to VDOT for preparation work and
project management. $240 million has been sent to US 460 Mobility, the company
hired to make the designs and build the highway. $100 million of that money
alone is for environmental work, such as extensive soil boring.

The funds have largely stopped since Layne put the project
on hold in March.

"I believe it was a political desire to get this road done
very quickly," said Layne. "I believe a little bit of it was VDOT. They
believed they were going to get the permit."

So with $300 million spent and nothing built yet, who is to
blame?

McDonnell Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton pitched
the project in 2012 without talking about the wetland worries. We asked him in
an email if he withheld information, and we are still waiting for a response.

"I'll leave that to others to decide, [if information
was withheld]," Layne said. "My personal opinion, I don't think there was an
intent to withhold, but certainly, there was a move to move this project along
quickly."

For now, a decision will be made by the end of the year, on
which of five new options can be built. The worst case that could still unfold,
nothing is built, with the state forced to pay up to $500 million in
obligations.

"I'm confident something will be built, and we will get a
permit," Layne said. "The chances of the worst case scenario unfolding are
diminished."

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.